Consumer goods increase
Consumer goods and services rose by five per cent in the year to January 2022, according to the Central Statistics Office.
The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows that almost all consumer prices rose in the last year as the cost of living crisis continues.
The area with the largest increase was transport at 14.1 per cent while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 12 per cent and alcohol and tobacco rose by 8.4 per cent.
Russian 'disinformation'
Nato allies accused Russia of misleading the world and disseminating “disinformation” by saying it was returning some troops to bases, charging that Moscow has instead added as many as 7,000 more troops near its tense border with Ukraine.
With Western fears high that Russia is planning to invade, tensions also spiked on Thursday along the line that separates Ukrainian forces from Russia-backed separatists in the country’s east, with the parties accusing each other of intensive shelling.
After a handful of positive signals from Russia that lowered the temperature in the crisis earlier in the week, the pendulum appeared to be swinging in the opposite direction again.
Mask wearing decision
Professor of Immunology, Paul Moynagh has said that “now is as good as it’s going to get” with regard to cases of Omicron and that it was time to halt mandatory wearing of masks.
It comes as the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) could recommend an end to the requirement for face masks, with the group due to meet on Thursday to discuss the latest Covid-19 data.
Prof Moynagh told Newstalk Breakfast that there was now a level of immunity in the population because of vaccination and that the Omicron variant was less severe and the high numbers were not translating into high hospital numbers or severe illness.
Red weather warning
A red weather warning has been issued for the south-west of Ireland as the island braces for the arrival of Storm Eunice.
The Met Éireann storm warning for Counties Kerry and Cork comes into effect at 3am on Friday morning and will remain in place until 8am.
“Storm Eunice will track quickly over Ireland tonight and Friday morning, bringing severe and damaging winds,” said the national forecaster.
Dublin Zoo new species
Dublin Zoo has announced the arrival of a new species, dholes, also known as Asiatic wild dogs, for the first time in the zoo's history.
Five male doles arrived in Dublin Zoo from Tierpark Berlin and, according to the zoo, the animals are settling into their new habitat very well.
The pack of dholes consists of a pair of six-year-old brothers, a pair of three-year-old brothers and a five-year-old half-brother.
Lismore court
The district court in Lismore, Co Waterford will no longer sit after more than 200 years of hearing cases.
The courts service has confirmed that they are withdrawing the monthly sitting which will now be held in Dungarvan as an all-day session from next May.
The sitting has been stopped, the court service explained, due to there not being enough cases which justify the assigning of a judge for a full day.
Payment agreement
Visa and Amazon have announced an agreement that will allow customers to use Visa cards on Amazon sites worldwide without additional fees.
The companies also agreed to collaborate on product and technology initiatives for “innovative payment experiences”, Visa said on Thursday.
Credit card fees have been a growing source of tension between Amazon and Visa.
